Bo released her hand and grabbed her shoulders so he could look in her beautiful green eyes. Lori's eyes were apprehensive as she looked into his eyes.
"Lori, they don't think that. They just were surprised that I proposed after one day," Bo said firmly as he traced his finger down her face gently.
"Bo, I just hope we haven't made a mistake," Lori said as she wrapped her arms around Bo's shoulders and pressed her head against his chest.
"We haven't. I love you. I want to marry you," Bo said, lifting her head from his shoulder and kissing her firmly. Lori closed her eyes as she kissed him back and cupped his face with her small hands.
"Bo, I love you too," Lori breathed softly as she ran her hand through his curls and rested her forehead against his.
Bo and Lori walked the rest of the way in silence. Bo didn't think anything was wrong until he saw Lori's angry father come out of the house and storm over to them. Lori's pale face turned paler and she cowered behind Bo, grabbing handfuls of his shirt. Besides his sister, he had never seen anyone look so scared.
"Lori Leigh, where have you been? you were suppose to have the chores done hours ago!" the balding middle aged man said.
His eyes were blood shot red and Lori Leigh could tell he had been drinking again. There would be another beating tonight,
unless Bo stood up to him and took her somewhere safe. Lori tried to hide behind Bo and she felt small and scared. She didn't
know how to defend herself when it came to her abusive father. Most kids fathers took care of them and didn't abuse them
Lori's was the total opposite. If you didn't do as told, you'd pay for it later with a beating that sometimes left you almost
for dead.
"Bo, don't let him hurt me. He abuses me everytime I come home late! Dad, I was over at Megan's helping with her wedding.
I said I would finish the chores when I got back", Lori Leigh said in a calm voice.
That didn't seem to phase the older man. He reached behind Bo and jerked on Lori Leigh's arm not knowing that Bo was the Sheriff
of Hazzard County and could arrest him if he questioned Lori about him being abusive.
Bo frowned. He didn't like the idea of leaving Lori home with her abusive father. She had all the signs of an abuse victim.
Frightned, shaky, and she hid from him behind Bo. BO looked at Lori who seemed upset. "Lori, has your father been abusing you?"
Lori Leigh nodded and swallowed hard "Yes, he does this everytime he drinks. Then he gets pissed and takes it out on me. Last
time he almost beat me to death. Bo, please don't let me stay here with him."
Bo turned to the older man "Lori isn't staying with you. YOu are arrested for abusing a young lady". Bo read him his rights
and put him in the backseat of his patrol car. He looked at Lori. "Get a few of your things. Your staying with my folks tonight".
"But, Bo, they may not want that", said Lori.
"Don't worry about that. My parents and everyone else may not agree with our decision, but if your in trouble they'll take you in. You can bunk with Megan and Daisy," Bo said, gripping her hands tightly in his. The spring night was warm, but Lori's hands were cold and shaking.
Bo pressed both her hands to his lips and kissed them gently. "I just don't want to cause trouble," Lori protested.
"You won't. Now go get your things," Bo said, releasing her hands and tracing her jawline with his fingers gently.
"Bo, I love you," Lori said softly.
"I love you too. Now go get your things," Bo repeated. He gave her a quick kiss and she ran into her house and came back moments later with a duffel and suitcase.
Bo and Lori were quiet all the way to town and all the way back to the Duke farm. Every so often Bo could have sworn that he heard a breathless sob escape her lips. Bo knew she was scared. He just hoped thathis family understood that too.
"Don't worry about that. My parents and everyone else may not agree with our decision, but if your in trouble they'll take you in. You can bunk with Megan and Daisy," Bo said, gripping her hands tightly in his. The spring night was warm, but Lori's hands were cold and shaking.
Bo pressed both her hands to his lips and kissed them gently. "I just don't want to cause trouble," Lori protested.
"You won't. Now go get your things," Bo said, releasing her hands and tracing her jawline with his fingers gently.
"Bo, I love you," Lori said softly.
"I love you too. Now go get your things," Bo repeated. He gave her a quick kiss and she ran into her house and came back moments later with a duffel and suitcase.
Bo and Lori were quiet all the way to town and all the way back to the Duke farm. Every so often Bo could have sworn that he heard a breathless sob escape her lips. Bo knew she was scared. He just hoped thathis family understood that too.
They arrived back at the Duke Farm. Lori Leigh got her suitcase, and they both walked inside. Megan was surprised to see
Lori Leigh back. "Lori Leigh, is everything okay?" she asked concerned about her friend.
Lori Leigh looked at Megan "It's Dad. He was drunk again and tried to hit me in front of Bo. Bo arrested him and now I have
no where else to go".
Megan hugged her friend close to her feeling sorry for her. Megan knew that Lori's father was abusive and had a drinking
problem but she didn't think things were this bad. She helped Lori Leigh upstairs and to set her things down.
Meanwhile Bo explained Lori's situation to his parents and cousins. "I don't think she needs to be alone right now. She needs
a place to stay and loving people around her".
His parents understood. "She can stay here Bo. I don't want her living in an abusive situation". said Jim. Mandy nodded to.
"She's such a sweet girl. She shouldn't have to go through that."